Ex-Michigan State University doctor and former Holt resident Larry Nassar is facing over 80 sexual abuse allegations, and that number seems to grow every week. Holt, a small and tight-knit community of just under 24,000 people watched as the headlines of court cases and accusations piled up. Nassar was a long-time resident and, at one point, an active member of the community. The reports began last summer, when allegations began to surface through the news media. One victim, Rachael Denhollander, alleged that Nassar — ungloved and without proper explanation — digitally penetrated her vagina during what was then explained to her as a “medical treatment.”

Denhollander learned later, as many of Nassar’s other patients, this was not a legitimate medical procedure—at the very least, not a commonly used and unexplained one.

DEWITT — In the city of DeWitt, the police department will be seeing a new face in the office this spring. According to Chief Bruce Ferguson, the department was accepting applications for a new full-time police officer from the dates of March 7-28. According to the city job posting, the job includes 12-hour shifts, being community policing-oriented, enforcement of all state and local laws and ordinances, and prevention, detection, and investigations of crime and traffic crashes. With the deadline closed, it will only be a matter of time until the decision is made. The process was a long, thought out one that had many applicants apply, according to Ferguson.

DEWITT — The city of DeWitt has seen a rise in the number of drugged driving cases over the past few years. Drugged driving is driving while under the influence of drugs. From 2012-2015, the city of DeWitt has seen rises in drugged driving cases. In 2012, the city had six cases. In 2013, the city had seven cases.

DEWITT — Over the past few years the city of DeWitt has had an average amount of crimes for a small city, including assaults, larceny, and even accidents. Those are just a few reasons people would call the police department in DeWitt. Chief Bruce Ferguson, who has been the chief since 2013, said that having a smaller city has allowed him to get closer to the citizens. “I don’t know if anyone in the city doesn’t have my cell phone number,” Ferguson said, “The city is close and small, so some people actually just drop by on their way home or something and talk to me directly.”

According to Ferguson, the police department will send officers to do house checks for the citizens. He said that they do around 250 checks a year.

BATH — Bath Township leaders have a pretty clear idea as to how residents want to pay for community needs: using grants and existing township funds. That’s according to Bath Charter Township’s recently-published results of a community survey regarding the township’s strategic plan. Once sent out to the community, citizens recorded votes and opinions based on the plans and goals given and how to go about them. Citizen results showed that “grants” and “leveraging existing Township funds” were the most popular results as to how to pay for the goals. Ryan Soucy, the Planning Director of the Bath Township Board of Trustees discussed the strategic plan, the community survey and the goals the township is hoping to accomplish.

On Feb. 5, Williamston biology teacher James Preston, 45, who is facing child pornography charges, waived his preliminary hearing and will stand trial. The preliminary hearing would have determined there was enough evidence was present for a trial. Williamston police are currently unsure if any Williamston students are involved. Preston is being charged with two counts of possessing child pornography and one count of using a computer to commit a crime.

Construction for the new police station in downtown Williamston is on schedule, said City Manager Alan Dolley. It will be located next to City Hall, on the corner of Grand River Avenue and Cedar Street. Official groundbreaking was on Sept. 8 and the construction crew began moving dirt the same day. Almost a month later, Laux Construction has set the foundation for the building.

While most members of the board voted to approve the budget at the Williamstown Township Board of Trustees meeting on Wednesday, March 12, two members did not: trustees Rod Imhoff and Rick Williams.

The 2014-15 proposed budget totaled $1,229,559, as of Feb. 28. This is down from $1,357,475 from the 2013-14 budget. At the meeting, Imhoff said he had an issue with the number of fudge factors in the budget. “Every year we do not have a deficit, yet we show a deficit in our budget,” Imhoff said.

Police Chief Bob Young said, “there has been a signed purchase agreement, but there has been no closing,” regarding the sale of the old police station located at 1500 W. Grand River Ave. To Young, the current police station is functional, but he would prefer to be downtown so the police station is more accessible to the public. Young said the current police station is old and run down, but still meets the police force’s needs. However, he said that a police station should be located downtown, especially in a city the size of Williamston. The city is ready to build the new station, but construction cannot begin until the old building has been sold.

Bath Charter Township set forth a proposal for a new millage for a public library that went to a vote yesterday, Nov. 5. The millage, which will support an independent public library, is set to collect $89,000 each year of property taxes and is set to go through 2016. The millage will only support the functioning of the new public library. Bath held five polling locations throughout the town for yesterday’s vote.

Environmental News from Great Lakes Echo

By MAX JOHNSTON
Capital News Service
LANSING — Many people consider carp to be a “trash fish,” but fly fishing for carp is popular in northern Michigan. This year though, guides have cancelled trips and lost thousands of dollars because they can’t find the fish.

By CARIN TUNNEY
Capital News Service
LANSING — Lake trout make noise in bed, according to new research by Great Lakes scientists. The species commonly growl, snap, quiver and thump while spawning, the study found.

In Case You Missed It

Summertime poses as the perfect opportunity for students to make and earn money for the up-and-coming school year but with more and more summer internships failing to offer compensation for their time students can struggle to make ends meet. “When I first got my internship I was so excited,” said Michigan State University pre-med student Ali Beydoun, “then found out it was unpaid and I got a little worried.